With only four weeks left in the regular season, the NFL play-offs are looming – the Cleveland Browns (0-12), New York Giants (2-10), San Francisco 49ers (2-10) and Chicago Bears (3-9) have been eliminated but all other teams are still in contention with most needing to win all remaining games to keep hopes alive. However, if the play-offs were to start today, the standings would be as follows:

AFC First Round Bye

1st Seed – STEELERS (10-2-0)

2nd Seed – PATRIOTS (10-2-0)

AFC Wild Card

6th Seed RAVENS (7-5-0) at 3rd Seed TITANS (8-4-0)

5th Seed JAGUARS (8-4-0) at 4th Seed Chiefs (6-6-0)

NFC First Round Bye

1st Seed – VIKINGS (10-2-0)

2nd Seed – EAGLES (10-2-0)

NFC Wild Card

6th Seed PANTHERS (8-4-0) at 3rd Seed RAMS (9-3-0)

5th Seed SEAHAWKS (8-4-0) at 4th Seed SAINTS (9-3-0)

With so much riding on Week 14, here are some of the most keenly anticipated matchups:

VIKINGS (10-2) at PANTHERS (8-4) – The Minnesota Vikings will visit the Carolina Panthers this Sunday afternoon with the hope of clinching the NFC North almost a month before the end of the season. The Vikings currently own a 5-1 road record while the Panthers hold a 3-2 mark at home in 2017. The Vikings, who have won 5 consecutive road games for the 1st time since 1974, currently have an 8-game winning streak, tied with New England for the longest streak in the NFL. The Vikings defence has held opponents to 289.1 yards per game (2nd in the NFL), 17.0 points per game (2nd in the NFL), limited opponents to 77.7 rushing yards per game (2nd in the NFL) and 3.4 yards per rush (3rd in the NFL) – justifiably earning their top spot.

Presently, the Carolina Panthers are not consistent enough to scare any of the top contenders and the defence, despite ranking second in the NFL coming into Week 14, has given up a combined 58 points in the past two games and are not expected to fare much better this weekend. Expect Minnesota to cement their top spot in the play-offs following a keenly contested battle.

EAGLES (10-2) at RAMS (9-3) – The Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13 ended the team’s nine-game win streak. Now they face an intriguing challenge against the Los Angeles Rams in what could be considered a must-win game. If the Eagles don’t beat the Rams, and if New Orleans wins in Atlanta, the Eagles will have gone from the top seed in the NFC to fourth in the span of eight days. Not only will home field through the play-offs be a pipe dream but even getting a first-round bye will be next to impossible.

The Philadelphia Eagles, led by QB Carson Wentz, are tied with the Los Angeles Rams as the NFL’s top scoring teams, averaging 30.1 points per game. The Eagles are second in rushing at 143.3 yards per game, third in total offence (385.1 yards per game) and 14th in passing (241.8). However, the Rams are in the top five in the NFL for yards per game, yards per play, and yards per pass play. They are in the top 10 for rushing yards per game, net passing yards per game, and fewest interceptions and sacks per pass play.

These two teams are super-hot and their meeting at this stage of the season will define the NFC top placing – This may be too close to call but the home team should have the edge.

RAVENS (7-5) at STEELERS (10-2) – The Baltimore Ravens started the season looking like a tired and somewhat non-competitive squad but they have impressively turned things around – Winning three straight games and QB Joe Flacco coming into form at the right time. The Steelers have arguably two of the most talented individual offensive players in the league in receiver Antonio Brown and RB Le’Veon Bell — Bell exhibits great patience and awesome power when running with the ball, while Brown is ranked among the NFL’s top receivers. The Steelers, however, may be without standout rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster who could be suspended for his ‘illegal’ hit on Cincinnati’s Vontaze Burfict last Monday night.

The Ravens have been playing sensational defence and they lead the league with three shutouts this season. On the other hand, the Steelers are not about to take a back seat to any defensive team, as they rank third in yards allowed and are one of the most physical teams in the league. There is no love lost between these two teams and the Ravens, who were embarrassed 26-9 by the Steelers on their home field on October 1st, will be looking to return the favour this Sunday. There may or may not be fireworks but the matchup should be a bruising encounter.